East County News Service

Photo: Surveillance image from U.S. Bank

July 3, 2015 (La Mesa) - The FBI and La Mesa Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the suspect responsible for robbing the U.S. Bank, located inside of the Albertsons grocery store located at 8920 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa, California, on Thursday, July 2 at 10:07 a.m.

East County News Service

July 2, 2015 (La Mesa) –June Takekawa Hsu, an 85-year-old La Mesa resident, has died of injuries sustained in a crash on northbound I-5  in Del Mar on June 24th shortly before 5 a.m. , the County Medical Examiner’s office reports.

July 2, 2015 (Ramona) – The San Diego County Fire Authority and CAL FIRE are making a major upgrade to fire and emergency medical services at the County’s Intermountain fire station. Starting July 1, new, around-the-clock paramedic service will be offered for the first time ever. The station is located east of Ramona along CA-78, a main route to Julian.

July 1, 2015 (La Mesa) – There is a lot of free summer entertainment in La Mesa this month, including concerts in the park, a movie under the stars, community theater and a walking club, not to mention a host of club activities for all ages and interests at the library.

June 30, 2015 (La Mesa)--Sharp Grossmont was honored with a 2015 Women’s Choice Award® as one of America’s best hospitals for cancer care. Sharp Grossmont is just one of 331 hospitals to have earned the award by meeting the highest cancer care accreditation standards of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and other robust criteria that consider female patient satisfaction.

June 30, 2015 (La Mesa) --  On Friday, July 24, at La Mesita Park, the City of La Mesa presents the movie “Despicable Me 2” (rated PG).  The Movie starts at 8:00 pm with pre-show entertainment at 7:30 pm.  La Mesita Park is located adjacent to the Junior Seau Sports Complex at 8855 Dallas Street, La Mesa.  This is FUN family entertainment at its best -“Movie Night Under the Stars.”  

East County News Service

June 29, 2015 (Ramona) --  The annual Ramona Fireworks display, synchronized to music, will be held on July 4^th at 9 p.m. at the Ramona High School football field, after a pre-fireworks picnic and activities at Olive Pierce Middle School.  But the Ramona Rotary Club, which organizes the display, has come up short despite substantial community fundraising efforts and warns that unless substantial donations or sponsors are received, this will be the last fireworks show in Ramona.

East County News Service

June 26, 2015 (Santee)—Francisco “Frankie” Castro, 23, is under arrest for an arson fire at  the “House of Hope,” a Santee shelter located at Prospect and Cottonwood avenues. The fire occurred on October 2, 2014.Castro was taken into custody by the Fugitive Task Force Thursday. He had been an "on and off" guest of one of the tenants.

East County News Service

June 27, 2015 (Lakeside) – Looking for a fun, free family activity?  Lindo Lakes County Park will be hosting free summer movies in the park.

June 26, 2015 (Julian) – The Volcan Mountain Foundation is offering a series of events, from hikes to beer-tasting to a summer film festival.  Scroll down for highlights, and visit www.VolcanMt.org. for full details.

By Pastor Rolland Slade, Meridian Baptist Church

June 26, 2015 (El Cajon)--For some time now, alcohol retailers in the City of El Cajon have been under pressure to conduct their businesses more responsibly. But despite all their efforts, irresponsible business practices such as selling to minors and already intoxicated homeless people have continued to be a problem.

By Miriam Raftery

June 25, 2015 (Borrego Springs) -- You just never know what you might see on a warm desert night out in Borrego Springs! 

This shot by our editor, Miriam Raftery, was taken on the summer solstice eve.  The figure at left, a photography student on Dennis Mammana's night sky photography tour, is facing off with a sculpture of a giant sloth (a creature that once roamed the Anza-Borrego Desert). The gigantic metal sculpture is one of many created by artist Richard Breceda that appear tto rise from the desert floor, captivating the imaginations of young and old alike.

The moon, Venus, and Jupiter are faintly visible in the sky above.

June 25, 2015 (Lemon Grove) – At a “Black Lives Matter” rally held last Monday in Lemon Grove, approximately 30 activists including representatives of religious, civil liberties, and immigrant rights groups called for a halt to the Sheriff’s “Operation Lemon Drop” and other similar law enforcement sweeps.

June 25, 2015 (Santee) -- With the slogan "changing lives one goal at a time" the One World Soccer Fest will kick off at the Sportsplex USA Santee (9851 Riverwalk Drive, Santee) on Saturday, July 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Proceeds will benefit the Chisomo Idea and the Homeless World Cup.  Soccer carnival games and a mini soccer clinic are all part of the day's fun, as well as viewing a round-robin soccer tournament.

By Miriam Raftery

June 24, 2015 (Spring Valley ) – San Miguel Fire Protection Agency has sent a letter notifying the Spring Valley Planning Group that the County intends to close its case on contamination from underground leaking storage tanks at 905 Gillespie Drive in Spring Valley.  The proposal would leave petroleum hydrocarbon elements in the soil to degrade by natural processes under the state’s “Low-Threat Closure Policy.”

Public comments will be accepted from June 27 through  August 31^st.

The fire district removed underground fuel storage tanks at its fire station on the site, Kevin Healy with the County's Enviornmental Health department advised East County Magazine. Under the state's policy, the contaminants can be left in place to degrade naturally if they are found to not pose a human health risk or adversely impact beneficial uses of surface water or groundwater.